Machine drill bit for surgical management of shaft of femur fracture in osteopetrosis - A case report of rare disease

Osteopetrosis is a collection of illnesses with increased bone density on plain radiographs that are clinically and genetically heterogeneous. There is limited literature on the technical difficulties and pitfalls of operative procedures in patients with osteopetrosis. An 11-year-old male patient presented with pain in the left thigh with the inability to bear weight on the limb following a fall from stairs and was diagnosed as a case of osteopetrosis based on the history, radiological and laboratory findings. He was managed successfully with open reduction and internal fixation with locking compression plate using a machine drill bit. Locking Compression plating is an effective treatment option for shaft femur fractures in patients with osteopetrosis. The use of a machine drill bit can significantly reduce the operative time and postoperative complications by decreasing thermal necrosis.